Three female donkeys neglected and abandoned in North Belfast have been taken into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary.

The donkeys were originally brought to the attention of the charity by a concerned individual who was alarmed at the length and distortion of the donkeys’ hooves and the apparent lack of an owner as there was no sign of care and management being shown to the animals.

The Donkey Sanctuary recently collaborated with local equine charities ‘My Lovely Horse Rescue’ and ‘The Equine Rescue Network’ to find homes for no less than 8 equines, 2 of which were donkeys and one a yearling mule.

Following a request to rehome two donkeys and a mule, our Welfare Adviser arrived to find that the donkeys and mule were also company to a consignment of several ponies all equally facing an uncertain future and in need of a home.

Daisy and Derrin came into the Sanctuary’s care in April of this year as the result of their owner passing away. The gentleman’s widow sadly was not able to cope with managing the donkeys as she herself was in her mid 70’s and found looking after them on a daily basis too demanding.

Daisy and her daughter Derrin proved to be very kind donkeys and as we worked with both ‘girls’ over the summer their lovely personalities and confidence shone through.

Panache the donkey lived a rather sad and lonely existence having being abandoned in a remote forest and then removed to an equine pound where his future hung in the balance. He was underweight and had the classical long, twisted hooves that indicated previous neglect. Thankfully The Donkey Sanctuary was able to secure the future of this young skewbald donkey that proved to have a very quiet, kind nature.